How it Happened: Blake Burke Blasts Vols past Bulldogs with late home run

HOOVER, Ala. — Tennessee baseball is on to the semifinal round of the Southeastern Conference Baseball Tournament after battling back to defeat Mississippi State 6-5 on Friday night at the Hoover Metropolitan Complex.

The No. 1 Vols (48-11) won on the eighth inning solo home run from Blake Burke, a blast that handed Tennessee its second lead of the night. The fifth-seeded Bulldogs (38-21) plated five runs in the fifth inning to take a two-run lead at 5-3, but couldn’t hold on as the Vols scored two runs in the seventh without the baseball leaving the infield.   

Aaron Combs picked up the win for Tennessee while Tyler Davis (5-1) is charged with the loss after surrendering the go-ahead home run to Blake Burke in the eighth inning. Burke led the way at the plate with three hits while Hunter Ensley, Dean Curley and Reese Chapman all tallied two hits.  

Tennessee moves on to face eighth-seeded Vanderbilt on Saturday for semifinal play. The contest will be the second of the day in Hoover with first pitch approximately 4 o’clock eastern time. Here’s how it all went down for the Vols during a 6-5 win over Mississippi State on Friday night.

Scoring Summary

Top 3: Kavares Tears tallied a sacrifice fly to left with the bases loaded and one out. Vols 1-0
Top 4: Reese Chapman advances to home on the delayed double steal (Moore out at second). Vols 2-0
Top 5: Dean Curley singled through the right side, soring Dylan Dreiling from second. Vols 3-0

Two-out knock for 'ole Curley to extend the lead!

📺 https://t.co/7sxdx78SNF (SECN)#GBO // #OTH // #BeatState pic.twitter.com/3eWAwMFQmZ

— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 25, 2024

Bot 5: David Mershon walked with the bases loaded. Vols 3-1
Bot 5: Connor Hujsak singled in two with a drive up the middle. Tied 3-3
Bot 5: Dakota Jordan singled in two on a drive to left field. Miss St 5-3
Top 7: Cannon Peebles drove in a run on a fielder’s choice and another run was awarded home after a throwing error took the ball out of play. Tied 5-5

TIE BALL GAME!!

📺 https://t.co/7sxdx78SNF (SECN)#GBO // #OTH // #BeatState pic.twitter.com/Jk1J2wYNlW

— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 25, 2024

Top 8: Blake Burke sent a solo home run over the right-centerfield wall. Vols 6-5

#BurkeBlast!!!

Vols are back in front!

📺 https://t.co/7sxdx78SNF (SECN)#GBO // #OTH // #BeatState pic.twitter.com/RHp7Pg0SoN

— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 25, 2024

Postgame Video

The Final Stats

2024 SEC Tournament Bracket

SEC Tournament Schedule (all times Central)

Tuesday, May 21          

Game 1: #11 LSU 9, #6 Georgia 1 | Final Stats
Game 2: #10 South Carolina 10, #7 Alabama 5 | Final Stats
Game 3 (4:30 p.m.) – #8 Vanderbilt 6, #9 Florida 3 | Final Stats
Game 4 (TBD) – #5 Mississippi State 2, #12 Ole Miss 1 | Final Stats

Wednesday, May 22   

Game 5 (9:30 a.m.) – #11 LSU 11, #3 Kentucky 0 (8 inn) | Final Stats
Game 6 (TBD) – #10 South Carolina 6, #2 Arkansas 5 | Final Stats
Game 7 (4:30 p.m.) – #8 Vanderbilt 13, #1 Tennessee 4 | Final Stats
Game 8 (TBD) – #5 Mississippi State 5, #4 Texas A&M 3 | Final Stats

Thursday, May 23        
Game 9 (9:30 a.m.) – #3 Kentucky 9, #2 Arkansas 6 | Final Stats
Game 10 (TBD) – #1 Tennessee 7, #4 Texas A&M 4 | Final Stats
Game 11 (4:30 p.m.) – #11 LSU 11, #10 South Carolina 10 | Final Stats
Game 12 (TBD) – #8 Vanderbilt 4, #8 Mississippi State 3 | Final Stats

Friday, May 24              
Game 13 (3:00 p.m.) – #10 South Carolina 6, #3 Kentucky 5 | Final Stats
Game 14 (TBD) – #1 Tennessee 6, #5 Mississippi State 5 | Final Stats

Saturday, May 25        
Game 15 (Noon) – Winner Game 13 vs. #11 LSU [SEC Network]
Game 16 (TBD) – Winner Game 14 vs. #8 Vanderbilt [SEC Network]

Sunday, May 26           
Game 17 (2 p.m.) – Winner Game 15 vs. Winner Game 16  [ESPN2]

Vols in the national polls this week

NCBWA – No. 1
USA Today – No. 1
Baseball America – No. 1
Perfect Game – No. 1
D1 Baseball – No. 1